The Job (Full Episode S01/E18)

[Old School]

(Video Description) In this episode, Willis dreams of buying a pair of pricey disco skates, but decides that he will raise the necessary money himself by getting a job rather than asking Mr. Drummond to buy them. Mr. Drummond offers to loan him the money instead, suggesting that he is too busy with his schoolwork to have time for a job, but Willis remains determined to earn the skates, though admits that he tends to get bored quickly with new projects. He combs through the classifieds, annoyed to find that there are few positions available for teenagers, but he soon lands a part-time spot at a gas station, proudly announcing that he will have the money for his skates in a mere seven weeks.

Mrs. Garrett bakes a cake to celebrate his first day on the job, but Willis comes home and confides to Arnold that he was fired for making several hapless mistakes. Not wanting to disappoint Mr. Drummond, he schemes to quickly land another job, but his second attempt is more disastrous than the first. Mr. Drummond then announces that he intends to come and visit Willis at his garage job, and the boys quickly seek Kimberly's help in covering up the truth. As Mr. Drummond prepares to leave, Arnold receives a phone call from "Willis" explaining they cannot come, as all of the station's gas has been mysteriously stolen, but the fib backfires when Willis arrives home at the same time, feigning a work-related injury. He is forced to admit the truth to his father, but Mr. Drummond assures him that he is still proud of him for trying. Willis is then further pleased when the garage owner phones and asks him to come back, stating that his work ethic was impressive despite his errors.